The former Inter star has scored only one league goal for City this season and his relationship with manager Roberto Mancini took another turn for the worse after a very public training ground bust-up earlier in January.

That has led to the decision by director of football Txiki Begiristain to sanction Balotelli's departure, two-and-a-half years after he arrived at the Etihad Stadium from Inter in a £24m move.

Balotelli has already given notice on his rented house in Cheshire and has flown a number of his belongings back to Italy.

He also held an apparent farewell meal with friends at a Chinese restaurant in Manchester after growing homesick in the north west and expressing his desire to return to Italy following the birth of his first child.

Representatives from all three parties involved in the transfer have continually played down the prospect of a January move in public, yet they have been in almost daily contact as they look to resolve Balotelli's future.